Andre Iguodala doing it all for Warriors

Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala (9) is all smiles as he awaits to be interviewed after scoring the game winning basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter of their game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. Oakland defeats Oklahoma 116-115. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

"He was talking about (Russell Westbrook's) shot more than anything," Iguodala said, referencing his son's comments after Friday's practice. "He was like, 'Man, I thought the game was over.' "

But even before his buzzer beater stunned Oklahoma City on Thursday night, Iguodala had shown why Jackson was already in love.

The clutch shot in the 116-115 win was the icing on the cake to a prototypical Iguodala performance. If you needed an explanation for the $48 million contract the Warriors gave him, along with the draft picks and players they had to give up for the opportunity, it played out in full Thursday.

He defended the best player in the gym, holding Kevin Durant 10 points below his average. He created offense, sometimes from nothing, with his passing and court vision, to the tune of nine assists.

And when he needed to, he scored, even when the Warriors most needed it -- a turnaround, baseline jumper that's sure to become a remember-when moment in Warriors lore.

It was just the kind of multifaceted production Golden State envisioned.

"It's amazing," Jackson said. "Amazing watching him play, the things he does to put us in position to be successful. ... When you put him in that lineup, when you put him on the floor, good things happen, because he's not relying on one thing to be an outstanding player."

Advertisement

This is what Golden State needed this offseason. More than Jarrett Jack's penetration. More than Carl Landry's inside scoring. More than Dwight Howard's presence in the middle. The way their roster is configured, loaded with players of great strengths and notable limitations, the Warriors needed a player who could enhance what was already here.

In one player, Iguodala, the Warriors got someone to bolster their defense, improve their size on the perimeter, set up shots for others, finish at the rim and enhance their transition game.

If the first nine games are prologue, Golden State also has an efficient scorer and a clutch performer. Scoring was supposed to be his weakness, especially shooting. But Iguodala is at 60 percent from the field. He's made half of his 34 3-point attempts. Last season with Denver, he made 45.1 percent of his shots, including 31.7 percent from 3-point range.

Iguodala's concern now is modeling the mindset the Warriors need to be elite. He said his goal is to not get too high over games such as Thursday night's, and not get too low after disappointing losses, such as the one at San Antonio last week.

The key, he said, is consistency. And it begins with Saturday's home tilt against the 1-8 Utah Jazz.

"That was a great game, great shot to end the game. Everyone is talking about us," Iguodala said. "But the next game, records say we're supposed to win. So we've got to go out there and handle our business.

"The scheduling seems like it should be in our favor the next week or two. So in a week or two, we'll see how we fared and are we really one of the top teams who go out there and handle their business."

It's no doubt early, but Jackson said Iguodala is thriving because his role is different from what it has ever been. He is not being asked to do too much, just what is needed.

"I think probably before, people wanted him to be 'that guy' and didn't really appreciate what he brings to the table," Jackson said. "I think asking him to be 'that guy' is minimizing who he really is. He just does so many things so well, he makes everybody around him better."

Saturday is Filipino Heritage Night at Oracle Arena. Part of the festivities will be fundraising efforts to benefit victims of the Super Typhoon Haiyan that struck the﻿ Philippines on Nov. 8. Fans will be encouraged to donate to Red Cross representatives at the arena or text RELIEF to 864233 to donate $10 to UNICEF. The Warriors will also sell a Filipino Heritage T-shirt and donate 10 percent of each shirt sold to Doctors Without Borders, which is helping people affected by the typhoon.